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This M42 features the three-prong flash supressors on the 40mm guns, although they lack the reinforcing ring that was introduced late in the production run. The lineage of the 76mm gun tank M41 is obvious when looking at the lower hull and running gear. The stowage boxes over the fender were for 40mm ammunition, and two spare 40mm barrels were able to be stored under the left-side ammunition stowage boxes. One of the main engine air cleaners is mounted just behind the fender stowage box, and one of the main engine mufflers is at the rear of the fender.
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This detail of the turret front provides a better view of the three-prong flash suppressors that replaced the earlier conical flash hiders. The mount for the .30cal machine gun can be seen on the turret to the left of the picture, and peeking out from behind the gun shield to the right of the picture is the mount for the gunner's left-hand ring sight.
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This side of the turret was home to the mount for the .30cal machine gun. The open-topped turret has been covered by now-rusty plate.
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"Bam Bam's" front door is immediately obvious, with the hinge, spring, and hold-open latch on the right of the picture. The headlight mountings and guards are just outboard on both sides of the front door, and the driver's and commander's periscope guards are visible on top of their hatches.
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This shot shows where two spare 40mm barrels were stowed under the fender stowage box. The fender itself is angled to a point like those on later-production M41 Walker Bulldogs.
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The vehicle commander occupied the seat in the hull front right, and the driver sat beside him. On early vehicles, the hull roof between the driver's and commander's hatches opened to the front and rear. This later-production vehicle does not feature these hull roof doors.
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Stowage boxes line the vehicle's right fender. Details of the suspension, including the volute spring bumper stops, can be seen at the bottom of the picture. The rear turret machine gun mount can also be seen at the very top of the photo.
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This rear view shows the other main engine air cleaner. The right-side main engine muffler is just behind the air cleaner, and a better view is available of the rear machine gun mount and turret ammunition stowage boxes. A tool rack was normally placed on top of the right main engine muffler, but it is missing from this vehicle.
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The shroud sitting just inboard of the main engine air cleaner was the exhaust port for the auxiliary engine. The pipe coming from the port indicates that this vehicle was equipped with a muffler for the auxiliary engine, but it has disappeared along with the tool rack on which it was mounted.
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© Copyright 2001-06 Chris Conners